This project is located in the Kawe area of Dar Es Salaam . This project primarily supports the mentally and physically challenged children by providing opportunities of education, play/stimulation/interaction, socialization, and overall personality development. Presently, this project serves the children of some of the poorest families who cannot afford to take their disabled children to private rehabilitation center.

This project, which presently serves 80 local kids, is greatly lacking in resources. There is an urgent need for willing volunteers, donations, and any other form of support.

Volunteer's role

Volunteers support the ongoing activities of the children's rehabilitation center by working in many areas and programs. Depending upon the severity and/or level of mental and physical disability, the kids are divided in two groups. The first group of children can concentrate and read, allowing volunteers to teach English, math, and/or science. Volunteers can also organize singing sessions, dancing, music listening, or any other extracurricular activities for the stimulation and participation of the children.

The second groups of children have severe mental and physical conditions – most cannot read or write. With this group, volunteers can contribute by assisting in physical therapy, speech therapy, games, etc.

Skills/Qualifications Needed

There is no need for any specific qualifications for the handicapped children's project. However, volunteers working in this project need to be patience, flexible, hard working, as well as possess an unwavering love for handicapped kids.

Room/Food/Supervision

Global Crossroad maintains four (4) local staff members, an office, and a hostel in Dar Es Salaam . Three (3) of our staff members reside in Dar Es Salaam and our other on-site coordinator resides in the city of Moshi . Our field staff members visit volunteers every two weeks (where it is possible). However, if the respective school is located in a hard-to-reach location (far from the highway or major transportation routes), our staff members will maintain contact with volunteers via phone and/or emails. In this case, the Heads of the respective schools will, additionally, serve as the local contact person for these volunteers.

Location Descriptions

Serving as both the capital and as a also a major port city, Dar Es Salaam is the natural starting point for volunteer experiences in Tanzania . Located near Mount Kilimanjaro, Dodoma and Zanzibar , Dar boasts numerous, beautiful beaches which are usually easily accessible from the city, namely Kunduchi, Mjimwena and Mbwa Magi.

A typical daily life of volunteer

8 AM: kids arrive at school at 8:00 AM. Volunteers are expected to be at the project BEFORE 8:00AM.

8-12 AM: Depending upon individual interests, experience, and skills, volunteers may work in this particular project in varying capacities. Volunteers mostly teach English, play/organize games, conduct music/signing-along sessions or other creative, educational extracurricular activities.

12-1 PM: Lunch Break

1-3 PM: After 12:00PM, the younger children return home to rest. The remaining children stay at their respective schools, where volunteers will assist in: teaching, game-playing, music-listening, etc.